A United Airlines Boeing 777-300, registered as N2140U, was performing flight UA-830 from Sydney, Australia to San Francisco, USA when it encountered a technical issue shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was in the initial climb out of Sydney’s runway 34L when hydraulic fluid began to leak from the right-hand main gear upon retraction.
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Despite this, the aircraft completed the gear-up and continued to climb, reaching a cruising altitude of FL300. While over the Pacific Ocean, approximately 340 nautical miles east of Sydney, the crew made the decision to turn around and return to Sydney due to the hydraulic issue.
The crew performed an alternate gear extension and managed to land the aircraft without further incident on runway 34L, albeit with open gear doors. This occurred roughly two hours after the initial departure. Following the incident, the decision was made to cancel the flight.
The passengers were likely rebooked on the next available flight to San Francisco. The aircraft was presumably taken out of service for inspection and necessary repairs to ensure the safety and integrity of future flights. This incident underscores the importance of stringent maintenance checks and the quick decision-making of the flight crew in ensuring passenger safety.